Modeling of the Pit Corrosion Impact on the Stress State in a Mining Link Chain

The chain link corrosion model was constructed by the finite element analysis software ABAQUS to evaluate the plain link chain impact under the changing behavior of different corrosion states. The link chain simulation study at different corrosion states was conducted (corrosion depth, area, and density), the curve of stress and energy variation with time was plotted. The stress distribution and related energy variations remained approximately the same at heavy loads. The steady stress of the corrosion chain link, friction dissipation energy, plastic dissipation energy, as well as steady internal energy, and corrosion depth, area, and density are fitted by third-degree polynomial relations. The maximum steady stress occurred at corrosion state III, which already exceeded the yield strength of the link chain below 20°C so that it made easy for the corrosion fracture to occur. This method provided important grounds for the design optimization and lifetime prediction of plain link chains.